Cold Chain’s Essential Role in the Fight Against COVID-19
Getting vaccinated against COVID-19 is the one sure way we have right now of fighting against this disease. That’s why governments all over the world are racing to get the vaccines distributed to their citizenry, even in their countries’ most far-flung corners. In this race, there’s no doubt that cold chain plays a key role, and we explain why.
Temperature control is vital to vaccine distribution
Vaccines need to be kept at specific temperatures. That’s because they contain biological ingredients, and these ingredients will deteriorate if they get too hot or too cold. Think of it as milk—milk can keep for some time in the fridge but spoil much more quickly if left at room temperature.
The Covid-19 vaccines available right now require cold storage. Just like most vaccines, they are created using messenger RNA molecules. These mRNA molecules are tasked to teach our immune system how to recognize and fight the COVID-19 virus. However, these molecules are unstable and need to be kept at specific cold temperatures to remain viable.
For example, the Moderna vaccine has to be stored at -20 degrees Celsius. It can last for six months at that temperature. Upon thawing, it can be kept at 8 degrees C for up to 30 days. On the other hand, the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine needs to stay at -70 degrees C at all times. Once it’s taken out of storage, it must be used within five days.
Effective Covid-19 vaccine distribution relies heavily on cold chain
With all these facts, it becomes painfully clear that cold chain is necessary to make COVID-19 vaccine distribution successful. From the moment they leave the manufacturing floor to the moment they are sucked into a syringe for injection, these vaccines have to stay at just the right temperature. For this, they will need cold rooms, freezers, temperature-controlled vehicles, thermal containers, and other cold chain equipment. Otherwise, the vaccines will only go to waste.
The challenge that the whole world faces right now is that not all countries have adequate cold chain infrastructures in place. In fact, studies have shown that only 25 or so countries have the ultracold infrastructure that the Pfizer vaccine requires. Many countries also have that particular difficulty of reaching remote areas without electricity or even proper roads to conduct their COVID-19 inoculation campaigns.
In the future, pharmaceutical companies will probably create a new formulation for the COVID-19 vaccine that will be more stable in warmer temperatures. But such developments always take time. Until then, COVID-19 vaccine distributions will just have to rely on cold chain.
At PearlTrans, we offer cold chain solutions to transport your precious and fragile medical specimens, as well as other items. Contact us to learn how we can serve your needs.
